Three factory safety deals in Bangladesh aim to improve conditions

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/23/factory-safety-bangladesh-rana-plaza

Version 0 of 1.

The Rana Plaza factory collapse has galvanised international action by governments and industry to try to improve conditions in Bangladeshi clothing factories. After years of inaction despite a string of fires, building collapses and poor treatment of workers, three separate deals are now in place. The question now is if they can work together. "Clearly, all the three initiatives need to agree on a common set of standards," said Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, the deputy director general of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The accord on fire and factory safety in Bangladesh<br />

More than 100 retailers and brands, including Marks & Spencer, Primark, Next and Arcadia, the owner of Topshop, have signed up to this legally binding deal to help improve factory safety. Brands have promised to continue to source from Bangladesh for five years and contribute up to $500,000 (£309,718) a year each to fund factory inspections and training to improve safety. The group, which is supported by international union IndustriALL and workers' rights pressure groups including the Clean Clothes Campaign, has published a list of about 1,600 factories used by its members and expects to start inspections before the end of the year. The leadership team has been holding talks with the Bangladeshi government and other international governments to seek support in funding any repairs required at unsafe factories brought to light by the inspections, but brands have committed to providing whatever money is required to get the job done.

The alliance for Bangladesh worker safety

Just 23 brands, mostly based in north America, have signed up to this five-year factory safety deal, which is seen as less rigorous than the accord because its signatories are not legally bound to their commitments and it is not linked to unions or workers' rights groups. The alliance has published a list of 620 factories used by its members including Walmart and Gap. It says more than half of those have already been inspected by the brands themselves, although formal alliance inspections have yet to start. It promises to arrange the inspection of all factories used by the signatories within a year and retailers promise to pay up to $1m a year each to support mandatory training for factory staff and managers and to support worker participation committees to deal with complaints about working conditions.

Improving working conditions in the ready-made garment sector

The government of Bangladesh and the ILO have launched a $25.2m plan to improve conditions in the country's garment trade over the next three and a half years. Backed by $15m from the UK and Dutch governments, it will also focus on minimising the threat of fire and building collapse in clothing factories and ensuring the rights of workers. The deal supports an action plan agreed this summer between the Bangladeshi government, employers' and workers' groups: the plan of action on fire safety and structural integrity in the garment sector.

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.